volume 5 issue 1 article 10

The Advantages of using Literary Texts in the Language Classroom

Author: Mustafa Altun

Abstract: The use of literature was the ultimate goal in the language classroom when the grammar-translation method was popular in language teaching. In the 1960s and 1970s the use of literature in the language classroom lost its prestige because the grammar-translation method fell into disuse. The widespread assumption was that literature was complex hence only linguistically competent learners were able to understand it. However, in the 1970s and 1980s literature emerged as a contributing force in language teaching and since then it has been used in the language classroom to promote language proficiency development. Although its incorporation in language teaching is still a matter of debate today, literature has the potential to foster language learning. Literature is a potentially worthwhile source to help learners with language development, cultural improvement and personal growth. This article explores the benefits of using literature in the language classroom. More specifically, the article focuses on the contributions of literature to language acquisition.